More than 850 Commonwealth Flags will be raised in locations throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories, and Commonwealth countries and on Monday 14 March – Commonwealth Day 2016.
Flags from the 53 Commonwealth countries plus the Commonwealth flag will be flown in Parliament Square in London for Commonwealth Day.
As a collective public expression of commitment to the Commonwealth, this unique initiative enables participants to show appreciation for the values the Commonwealth upholds, and the opportunities offered for friendship and cooperation with fellow Commonwealth young and old citizens around the world.
At the Memorial Gates, Constitution Hills, a commemoration ceremony will be held like every year. The ceremony will be hosted by Baroness Shreela Flather along with Inderjeet Singh Nijhar, Chairman - Memorial Gates Council. The focus of this commemoration will be the engagement at Gallipoli in 1915-16.
Commonwealth Flags will be flown at many locations of special significance including at six locations on the Island of the Republic of Malta; in Tristan Da Cunha, the most remote of the United Kingdom Overseas Territory; in St. David's in Pembrokeshire, the westernmost city in Wales; in Carlisle in Cumbria, the northernmost city in England; in Lowestoft in Suffolk, the easternmost town in England; and in Unst in the Shetland Islands, the most northerly inhabited island in Scotland.
Scouts in The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Republic of Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Samoa, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and Tobago will also be raising the Commonwealth Flag at 10.00hrs local time on 9 March, joining thousands of other young people around the Commonwealth to celebrate and the launch of this year’s special theme – An Inclusive Commonwealth.
His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth said: “Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth is a most imaginative way for people in local communities – wherever they live, learn or work – to join together with others throughout the Commonwealth in a spirit of respect and understanding to celebrate the variety and unmatched diversity of our global family.”
Lord Howell, President of the Royal Commonwealth Society said: “The Royal Commonwealth Society is proud to be associated with Fly a Flag on Commonwealth Day and welcomes the flying of the Commonwealth flag over public buildings throughout the whole Commonwealth network. Flying the Flag brings us all together in a great family of nations.”
Halaevalu Mangisi Palu, Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association of the Kingdom of Tonga (GGAKT) said: "In Tonga, where time begins, GGAKT are humbled to be granted the honour to be the first country in the world to raise the Commonwealth Flag at 10.00hrs on 9th March 2015, leading the youth of the Commonwealth in this unique, historic, global event that morning.”
Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR – Originator and Commonwealth Pageantmaster, of 'Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’, said: "I am amazed how quickly this event has caught the public imagination in so many Commonwealth countries and are delighted to be involving the Royal Commonwealth Society in the project this year. We are only in our third year, and the involvement of so many people of all ages and from all walks of life shows the enormous potential of this project and of the Commonwealth. It is a positive and uplifting way for people to link with fellow citizens of the Commonwealth in a family that spans across oceans and continents.
There is a real sense of promise, and hope for the future. We also celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday on the 21st April this year, so marks a special occasion for the Commonwealth too, especially as The Queen is it’s Head.”
